- US Ambassador to South Africa Leo Brent Bozell III has warned that Washington could introduce further measures if Pretoria fails to address American demand
- The warning follows visa restrictions announced by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio targeting individuals accused of enabling race-based discrimination, inciting violence or facilitating land expropriation without compensation
- Washington has outlined five key demands involving farm attacks, political slogans, land reform, race-based legislation and South Africa’s foreign policy
The United States has warned South Africa that it could face additional punitive measures as tensions between the two countries continue to grow.
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US Ambassador Leo Brent Bozell III issued the warning during an interview with The Common Sense on Monday, 19 October 2026, according to NewsDay.
Bozell said Washington had spent nearly two years engaging with Pretoria but believed the discussions had produced limited progress. He indicated that the US was preparing further steps if the South African government continued to resist its demands.
"We've told the government that there were going to be next moves from the United States, and they're not going to be good for South Africa," Bozell said.
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The ambassador added that Washington wanted to maintain a strong relationship with South Africa but expected the government to demonstrate a similar commitment.
"We want strong and lasting relations with the South African government. It needs to show it wants the same. So far, it has shown it cares for neither," he said.
US Visa Restrictions Already in Place
The latest warning follows visa restrictions announced by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio the previous month.
The measures target individuals accused of enacting or enabling race-based discrimination, inciting violence or facilitating land expropriation without compensation.
Bozell's latest remarks suggest that Washington could consider additional measures if diplomatic discussions fail to produce progress.
The potential consequences come amid disagreements between the two governments over South Africa's domestic policies, land reform and international relations.
See X post from NewsDay here:
Five Demands the US Wants South Africa to Address
Washington has outlined five areas in which it wants the South African government to take action before relations can be repaired.
1. Classify Farm Attacks as a Priority Crime
The US wants South Africa to classify attacks on farms as a priority crime and assign the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation, commonly known as the Hawks, to investigate every case.
2. Condemn the “Kill the Boer” Slogan
Washington is calling on the African National Congress (ANC), South Africa's governing party, to publicly and unequivocally condemn the slogan "Kill the Boer, kill the Farmer" in all its forms.
3. Address Land Expropriation Without Compensation
The US wants Pretoria to prevent land expropriation without fair market compensation and ensure that all legal avenues have been exhausted before expropriation takes place.
4. Exempt US Entities From Certain Race-Based Requirements
Washington is demanding that American entities be exempted from Black Economic Empowerment (BEE) requirements and other race-based legislation that the US considers non-tariff barriers to trade.
BEE is a South African policy framework intended to address economic inequalities created by apartheid and expand economic participation among historically disadvantaged groups.
5. Reconsider South Africa's International Relationships
The US is also calling on South Africa to sever ties with Iran and other countries Washington considers adversaries. It has additionally urged Pretoria to adopt what it describes as a genuinely non-aligned foreign policy.
South Africa has maintained its own foreign policy positions, which have become a point of disagreement between the two governments.
Ramaphosa Yet to Set a Response Timeline
South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has previously indicated that he intends to respond to the US demands. However, he has not committed to a specific timeframe for doing so, according to the report.
The outstanding demands leave several issues unresolved as the two countries seek to navigate their strained relationship.
US Ambassador Avoids Direct Answer on Genocide Claims
In a separate interview previously reported by Briefly News, Bozell declined to confirm or deny whether the US government believes white South Africans are experiencing a targeted genocide.
During the live radio interview, he was asked to give a direct yes-or-no answer on whether Washington believed a white genocide was taking place in South Africa.
The ambassador did not commit to either position and instead redirected attention to the five demands Washington had presented to Pretoria.
His response came amid wider debate over farm attacks, land reform and the treatment of white South Africans, issues that have featured prominently in the diplomatic tensions between the two countries.
For now, Washington's warning signals the possibility of further action, although the report does not identify the specific additional sanctions being considered or provide a timeline for their implementation.
Source: TUKO.co.ke